VOI World/ Desk
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that from October 30, 2025, foreign nationals filing for renewal of their Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs) will no longer receive automatic extensions while their applications are processed. This marks a major shift from the previous policy under the Joe Biden administration, where applicants could continue to work for up to 540 days during renewal processing.
India, whose nationals form a significant portion of the U.S. high-skilled workforce, stands to be deeply impacted. Analysts say thousands of Indian professionals—especially those on H-4 visas, STEM extensions or long waits for green cards—could face employment disruptions or forced job changes if renewals are delayed.
The DHS has stated the change is aimed at strengthening background checks and national security vetting for non-citizen workers. Automatic work-permit extensions are being phased out to ensure that only fully-approved renewals allow continued employment eligibility.
For India, the shift carries implications for migration policy, talent flows and bilateral cooperation on labour mobility. While Indian PM Modi has emphasised the importance of the Indian diaspora globally, this policy change underscores rising uncertainty for Indian workers abroad and may influence decisions about international mobility or retraining.
